Santa and the Ice King

SYNOPSIS:Santa and Oonik have found the Ice King a perfect mate in the Ice Queen of the South. The Ice King immediately asked the Ice queen to come with him to the North. But she said she couldn't leave in the middle of the Southern Hemisphere winter. Then Santa pointed out that Ice King wasn't needed in the North, because it should be summer there.

Chapter Fifteen

A Merry Christmas

The Ice King looked sheepish. "You are right," he said. "I had forgotten it's August and supposed to be summertime in Northern Lands. I'm not needed there at all."

"So," said Santa, "you and the Ice Queen can stay here and make winter for the South Pole lands. Then in December, when it's summertime at the bottom of the world you and the queen can come North and make winter at the top of the world."

"How wonderful!" exclaimed the Queen. "That way we'll always be together!"

"And we'll be able to make winter all year round," said the King happily.

"And no one will hate you," said Santa, "because everyone will have warm weather for half the year."

Oonik could hold himself in no longer. "Hooray!" he shouted, jumping up and down. "Everything is settled. Lets hurry home and tell my people the news."

"They already know," said Santa, "for the Ice King has already been some days away from his job. But you are right and I, too, must hurry back to my shops for I've a whole year's work ahead of me and the summer, if it has come is almost gone."

The Ice King laughed. "Don't worry," he said. "I wouldn't be surprised if we're very slow coming up from our honeymoon and winter will have a late start this year in Eskimo land."

Santa and Oonik and Keotuk got on the sled but the polar bear wouldn't get on. He stood between the Ice King and Ice Queen and refused to be coaxed away.

"Leave him here," sand the Queen and King. "We three will rule the winters together."

So Oonik and Santa left them there and headed back for Santa Land. When they arrived they found that, sure enough, the snow had already begun to melt and the frozen sea had broken up.

The fair land worker rushed out to greet them. "You did it!" cried crooked-legged Tweedleknees. "You conquered the Ice King!"

"Not conquered," said Santa with a smile. "We just made friends with him."

Mrs. Claus came running from the house. "Oh, Santa," she cried. "My rheumatism is all gone. And guess what? I saw birds yesterday-flying up from the South! Oh, summer is really here!" She caught Oonik up in an embrace. "You poor hungry boy- you come right in and I'll fix you some gingerbread men."

But, Oonik remembered the gingerbread he had had on the trip and said, "Thank you but I must be on my way. My people will be starting for their summer hunting grounds and I must be there to help them."

"Ha!" scoffed Tweedleknees while Santa disappeared into the toyshop. "How will you get home? The ice on the sea is broken up and your sled will do you no good."

Oonik had really though Santa would take him home so now he was crestfallen and worried.

Tweedleknees slapped him on the back. "Cheer up!" he shouted gleefully. "I have made you a boat!"

Then he took Oonik to the water's edge and showed him a kayak-the strongest tightest most beautiful kayak any Eskimo ever had. It had two holes in its sealskin top. Oonik fitted himself into one hole and Keotuk fitted into the other.

"Don't forget the paddle," called Santa running down from the shop. "It is a very special paddle for a very special boy. Stroke but once and it will carry you across the widest sea."

Oonik reached up for the paddle and his whole face shone with astonished pleasure.

"Why it's just like Christmas!" he exclaimed.

"And why not!" smiled Santa. "It's been a cold, cold summer!"

Then he and Tweedleknees and Mrs. Claus and all the Santa folk cried "Merry Christmas!" Oonik shouted "Merry Christmas to all!" and gave one push with his paddle and sped home across the summer sea.

The End